An annual review of volunteering was published.
Source: Annual Review 2002-2003, National Council for Volunteering (020 7520 8900)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
A report said that volunteers could have an effect on reducing - and even preventing - crime: 77 per cent of young offenders ceased to re-offend after being mentored by volunteers in one project.
Source: CSV Reports on Crime Reduction, Community Service Volunteers (020 7278 6601)
Links: Report (pdf) | CSV press release
Date: 2003-Nov
An article argued that the government's encouragement of volunteering privileged the development of a volunteering culture characteristic of affluent areas, and failed to recognise and value the informal volunteering culture more characteristic of lower-income populations.
Source: Colin Williams, 'Developing voluntary activity: some policy issues arising from the 2001 Home Office citizenship survey', Social Policy and Society, Volume 2 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2003-Oct
An official survey found that formal volunteering and civic participation activities were highly concentrated among people in more affluent social groups. The government said the survey highlighted a need to encourage greater civic activity among those from poorer, deprived communities and people with no qualifications.
Source: Chris Attwood, Gurchand Singh, Duncan Prime, Rebecca Creasey et al., 2001 Home Office Citizenship Survey: People, families and communities, Research Study 270, Home Office (020 7273 2084) | Press release 16 September 2003, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf) | Home Office press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A report argued that volunteers did not want volunteering to feel too regimented and constricting; they wanted to be treated differently from paid workers, and wanted their contribution to be recognised as something that they were doing willingly in their own time.
Source: Katharine Gaskin, Choice Blend, Institute for Volunteering Research (020 7520 8900) and National Centre for Volunteering
Links: Summary | IVR press release
Date: 2003-Jun
A new guide was published, aimed at social services departments which might be interested in starting or developing the participation of volunteers within their work. It argued that volunteers were flexible, well motivated and unpaid, and could be an effective way of adding 'best value' to service delivery.
Source: Alex Parish, Jane Heath and Meryem Hassan, Changing the Face of Social Services: Volunteers adding value in service delivery, National Centre for Volunteering (020 7520 8900)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2003-Jun
The government announced the details of a pilot scheme to give young people from low-income families an allowance of 45 a week to encourage them to become volunteers. Those who took part would also get a lump sum of 750 after successfully completing nine months of volunteering, and might qualify for housing, council tax and health benefits. They would also have meals and travel costs paid for by volunteering providers.
Source: Press release 11.4.03, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release
Date: 2003-Feb